More than three years after its launch, Pinterest is finally testing its first ad unit.
Called “promoted pins,” the ads will soon appear in search results and category feeds, according to a blog posted Thursday by Pinterest CEO and founder Ben Silbermann. Silbermann addressed the potential criticism adding advertising might bring, as it has for other social networks like Tumblr and Facebook.
“I know some of you may be thinking, ‘Oh great… here come the banner ads.’ But we are determined not to let that happen,” he wrote, noting that there will be no flashy banners or pop-up ads. Instead, Silbermann promised to keep ads tasteful, transparent and relevant.
For example, Silbermann said a search for “halloween” might lead to a promoted pin for a Darth Vader outfit.
Pinterest has experimented with earning revenue from referral fees in the past through a partnership with the company SkimLinks, but this is the first time it has introduced an ad unit. The company has not revealed which brands it’s working with for the trial period, though Silberman said until promoted pins have been properly tested, the advertisers it is working with will not be charged.
